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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

C. J. LE ROY.

DEVICE POR THB ABSORPTION 0F THE'GASEOUS PRODUCTS 0F GOM-BUST-ION., No.-299,813. Patented June 3, 1884.

WITNESSBS: INVBNTOR (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

C. J. LE ROY. y DEVICE POR THE ABSOR'PTION 0F THB GASBQUS PRODUCTS 0FGOMBUSTION.

No. 299,813. Patentgd June 3, 1884.

WTTNBSSES=- TNVETOL l @oi/230' 3 BY' .ATTORNEY UNI-TED STATES PATENTOrmea.

CHARLES J. LE .'ROY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO LE GRAND S.

BURTON AND BURTON 8U PARKER, ALL OF SAME PLACE.

DEVICE FOR THE ABSORPTIN F THE GASEOUS PRODUCTS 0F COMBUSTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 299,813, dated June 3,1884.

Application filed October 23, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that-I, CHARLES J. Ln Rox, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in they county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinventeda new and useful Method of and Device forY Absorbing orCondensing Smoke, ofwhich the following is a specification. r

My invention relates to the method of and machine for the consumption,absorption, or condensation of smoke or the products of combustionissuing from ordinary furnaces, and for the burning of such partsthereof as may be combustible. It has for its immediate objects thedisposition of the entire product of combustion, so as to leave noresiduum of the same to escape into the atmosphere,`and the returning ofcertain gases to the furnace to beA burned.

I have exhibited in the accompanying drawings, which are made a part ofthis application, and wherein like letters .represent like parts in allthe figures, a form of device which attains the result referred to, andwhich in its operation illustrates generally the method which I wish toemploy.

Figure 1 is a'sectional view through the condenser. Fig. 2 is aperspective view of the condenser and fan connected and in position foroperation;

A represents the condenser'in the form of a cylinder. B B B arehorizontally-arranged boxes located therein, and consisting each of adisk and a flat open-mouthed funnel secured f funnels C.

I is the steam-supply pipe, discharging into the chamber D.

J is a pipe connecting the chimney or furnace discharge pipe with theexhaust-fan K.

M is a pump furnishing water to the condenser. f

L is a pipe connecting the chamber D with the body of the condenser, andthrough which the uncondensed gases pass to the chamber D.

N (shown in dotted lines in Fig. l) is a pipe extending from the top ofthe condenser, the l chamber D being dispensed with in such case, andterminating in the upper part of the free discharge-pipe E.

O (shown in dotted lines in Fig. l) is apipe passing from the upper partof the dischargepipe E at the elbow to the furnace, to conduct theuncondensed gases thence to be burned.

P is a safety-valve on the top of the condenser, to relieve thepressure.

R, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. l) is apipe passing directly from thetop of the condenser to the furnace.

Z Z Z are small holes connecting the chamber D with the body of thecondenser.

T are straps attached to the edges of the boxes and secured to the sidesof the condenser to support the boxes therein.

S is a valve to control the passage from the chamber D to the condenserproper.

rlhe parts shown in dotted lines may or may not be used. Then they areused, certain other features of the device shown are omitted, as isexplained hereinafter.

The method of operationis as follows: The entire products of combustionare exhausted from the furnace, proper connection being made therewith,by the fan, and forced into the condenser at the bottom through the pipeW. The smoke rising in the condenser meets with various obstructions,beginning with the lower box B and ending with the inverted funnels C CC. The shapes and positions of or being discharged into the products ofcombustion as they are arrestedv or held under pressure absorbs a largequantity there of, and discharges -the same with the waste water throughthe pipe E into the sewer. Certain gases or parts of the products ofcombustion are not thus absorbed by the water, but rise to the top ofthe condenser, there accumulating and forming an elastic cushion whichmight ultimately cause the explosion of the condenser, if not otherwiserelieved. These gases having passed to the top of the condenser are'conducted through the pipe L to the chamber D. Here they are subjectedto the action of steam from the pipe I, and thereby condensed orabsorbed, so that they pass with the water of condensation through theapertures Z Z Z, and thence to the general dischaigepipe.

It will be seen, of course, that this device can be greatly changed indetail without departing from the spirit of my invention. rlhe platesand jets and pipes can be altered as to size, shape, number, andposition.

rIhe chamber D might be dispensed with, and the steam introduced withthe water, so as to accomplish the desired result.

It will be seen that the heat is much greater in the upper than in thelower part of the condenser, certain gases or parts of the products ofcombustion being absorbed or condensed in the lower part and theremainder in the upper part thereof.

Cold water is preferred when steam is ap plied to chamber D.

In some cases it may be desirable to heat the upper part of thecondenser in some other manner than by steam, and in such case cold.

water may be discharged from the pipe into the chamber D or top of thecondenser when the chamber D is dispensed with.

Vhile simple horizontal plates might be used instead of the invertedconical boxes B, I consider the boxes much the better mea-ns for thepurpose, for the reason that the smoke and gases, having once enteredsuch a box, are by their own levity compelled to remain in it untilcondensed or absorbed, so as to pass out with the water, (except that asmall portion might be carried out by the friction of the falling andoutiiowing water,) and as the products of combustion are condensed andabsorbed in these trapsfor such they are in effect-the vacuum therebycaused is filled by the outer pressure driving in a new supply toundergo the same treatment. rlhus this form of smoke-arresting devicestill further exemplifies in one detail'the method and principle whichprevail throughout the whole devi ceviz., the detention of the gaseousproducts subject to the water or steam by which they are to be condensedor absorbed until such condensation is effected, no escape beingprovided except such and so located as will be available to liquid only,and not, under ordinary conditions, to gaseous matter, for from thestructure described it will be seen that the gaseous products ofcombustion forced into the condenser have no avenue of escape from it,until the safety-valves limit of pressure is passed, except thewaste-pipe at the bottom, so that they m'nst, perforce, remain in thecondenser until condensed or absorbed, so as to be carried ont with thewaste water. 3y thus confining the smoke I am able to effect with a verysmall condenser much more complete absorption and condensation than hasheretofore been accomplished by means of more extended and expensiveapparatus. If there should be gases incapable of being absorbed orcondensed even by the aid of the top steam-chamber, such gases wouldaccumulate at the top, and the safety-valve being sct to such pressureas to detain the absorbable gases long enough to accomplish theirabsorption, the unabsorbable gases, if any, would then escape past thesafety-valve. In the same manner such of the unburned gases as are notat once absorbed by the water-spray maybe conducted back to the furnace,to be utilized by combustion, and in that case the chamber D and itssteam-induct pipe may be omitted or retained, as found best, accordingto the character of the fuel and the gases it produces. This return ofgas to the furnace may be effected through the free pipe R or the pipesN and O, for in practice I find that the burned gases from ordinaryfuels are absorbed or condensed so readily.

with my device that sufficient pressure is maintainable in the condenserto detain these gases long enough for their absorption or condensation,even when there is a free dischargepipe back to the furnace orelsewhere, provided such pipe is small relatively to the smoke-inductpipe F. Vhen, therefore, it is 'desired simply to remove thecoloring-matter from the smoke and permit the colorless gases which riseto the top ofthe condenser to escape, the chamber D may bedispensedwith, and a properly-restricted discharge-pipe carried up toany desired point where the escape of the gas will not canse nuisance.The safety-valve may in that case be interposed in the discharge-pipe,in order to maintain a higher pressure and effect more completeabsorption in the condenser.

IVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The method of condensing the gaseous products of combustion, whichconsists in spraying them with water while detained under pressure, andsubjecting them to increased heat during the latter part of the process,substantially as set forth.

2. The method of condensing the gaseous products of combustion, whichconsists in spraying them with water while detained nnder pressure, anddischarging steam upon the unabsorbed portion, substantially as setforth.

3. rlhe method of condensing the ascending gaseous products ofcombustion, which consists in trapping them, as shown, by virtue oftheir levity, and spraying them with water while so trapped.`

4. The method of disposing of the gaseous products of combustion, whichconsists in spraying them with water while detained under pressure, anddischarging steam upon the IOO IIO

portion uncondensed, and conducting the portion still remaininguncondensed back. to the furnace, substantially as set forth.

5. In a device for condensing the gaseous products of combustion, thecombination of a box or chamber open at the bottom with spraythe`gaseous products of combustion, thecombination of a smoke-receivingchamber, a box or boxes therein opening downwardly, and spray-pipesarranged to discharge Within said boxes, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth. y

`8. In a device for condensing the gaseous products of combustion, thecombination of a denser,Water-supply pipes thereto,Waste-pipetherefrom,l and smoke-arresting plates therein, substantially as setforth.

9. In a device for condensing the gaseous products of combustion, thecombination of a condenser, means for driving the smoke thereinto,smoke-arresting plates therein, Watersupply pipes thereto, andWaste-pipe therefrom, 'an upper heating-chamber, and a safetyvalve,substantially as set forth.

10. In a device for condensing or absorbing thegaseous products ofcombustion,a condensing-chamber, in combination With means for drivingthe smoke thereinto, smoke arresting and condensing boxes therein,Water-spray pipes arranged to discharge within said boxes, and aWaste-pipe leading from such condensing-chamber, substantially as setforth.

CHARLES J. LE ROY.

Witnesses:

FRANoIs W. PARKER, GHAs. S. BURTON.

